• Source:JND
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Amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada over the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh, a former alliance partner of Prime Minister Trudeau, on Monday claimed that Canadian Sikhs were satlked by fear and urged the Canadian government to take action against India, specifically calling for diplomat sanctions.

"We support today's decision to expel India's diplomats and we're calling on the Government of Canada yet again to put diplomat sanctions against India in place, ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Network (RSS) in Canada, and commit to pursuing the most severe consequences for anyone found to have participated in organized criminal activity on Canadian soil," he said in an official statement.

He further expressed concern over the information released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and said, "New Democrats are extremely worried about the information released by the RCMP commissioner today. Canadians, particularly the Sikh community in Canada, have been stalked by fear, threats, harassment and violence-including extortion, violence and electoral interference all allegedly at the hands of Indian officials."

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India- Canada indulged in a diplomatic row after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday accused the Indian government of making a "fundamental error" by supporting criminal activities in Canada.

Speaking at a press conference in Ottawa, Trudeau highlighted ongoing tensions between the two nations and stressed the importance of an upcoming meeting between their national security advisors, scheduled for this weekend in Singapore.

"When I spoke to PM Modi at the end of last week, I highlighted how incredibly important meeting between our national security advisors in Singapore this weekend was going to be. He was aware of that meeting and I pressed upon him that the meeting needs to be taken very, very seriously," Trudeau said.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Police (RCMP) on October 14 released a statement on "violent criminal activity occurring in Canada with connections to agents of the Government of India" and addressed four major issues -- "Violent extremism impacting both countries (India and Canada); links tying agents of the Government of India (GOI) to homicides and violent acts; the use of organized crime to create a perception of an unsafe environment targeting the South Asian Community in Canada; and interference into democratic processes."

Singh further alleged that Canada has credible evidence linking Indian officials to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"Canada has long held credible evidence that the Narendra Modi government was involved in the murder of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, and the United States has already indicted multiple individuals for related crimes - yet NDP had to fight just to have potential subversive activity by India included in the scope of the inquiry into foreign interference," the statement said.

(With inputs from agency)